New Hewlett High School assistant principal Richard Mangeri is a familiar face having been a district teacher and coach.

On Day Seven of her new job, Kim Parahus, Hewlett-Woodmere’s recently hired director of school facilities and operations, was on the roof of the Woodmere Education Center in high heels, inspecting a possible leak.

Parahus, 49, the only female director of facilities and operations in Nassau County, is responsible for maintaining school buildings and overseeing the Hewlett-Woodmere School District’s maintenance and security staff. “Some guys are wary of me at first,” she said, “but once they get to know me, they’re able to get a sense of my background and knowledge, so it puts their fears at rest.”

Parahus, who lives in Massapequa Park, began her career as an elevator mechanic in Long Island City. “I thought it was a good part-time job to have while in college,” she said. “I ended up staying, and learned more about the field.”

Over the past 30 years, she has worked for New York City and Plainview-Old Bethpage public schools. “I’m excited to meet the challenges Hewlett-Woodmere has to offer,” she said. “Hewlett-Woodmere has a prestigious reputation, and once I heard Dennis Sheridan” — the former executive director of facilities and operations — “was retiring, I wanted to take on the challenge.”

Parahus is currently overseeing the restoration of tennis and handball courts as well as the construction of a greenhouse and a Life Skills room at Woodmere Middle School, and partial window replacement at the Woodmere Education Center. “One of the biggest challenges that exists is coordination between contractors to ensure that all work is completed correctly and prior to the start of the new school year,” she said. “On a positive note, the staff are dedicated and committed to the school district, and are bringing me up to speed very quickly. I’m extremely grateful for that.”